Management of Water Resources in the UAE

Abstract

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the protection of the environment relies greatly on the recognition of the threats and challenges posed by the involved ecosystems. Since the UAE has limited water resources as it falls within the arid and semiarid region, the sustainable and balanced growth of the country requires the management and conservation of the water resources through the consideration of several factors. Experiences of over four decades relevant to the water sector are emphasized in relation to the environmental policy and the development of institutional legal framework alongside the use of clean and suitable technology. In addition, the importance of enhancing the environmental education and awareness programs has been an area of major concern to many local organizations, such as the Zayed International Prize for the Environment (ZP), along with other institutions, in the UAE’s environmental protection strategy through partnerships and collaboration. With the evident interrelation between water and energy, as the generation and production of one resource requires the use of the other, the UAE provides a strong exemplification of the water and energy nexus in such regions.